Setup support

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support has a tubular member open at one end and an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustably telescopically assembled through and projecting from such end with at least one and desirably a substantial series of axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulders thereon movable into and out of the tubular member in reciprocations of the members, with an axially outwardly facing shoulder device on such end of the tubular member adapted to be engaged selectively with the peripheral shoulders by a relative rotary movement of the device and the elongated member when the selected shoulder is located outwardly from such end. The tubular member may be of internally rectangular cross section and the elongated member of complementary rectangular perimeter with the shoulders thereon formed by peripheral grooves, and the shoulder device is desirably a ring rotatably seated on the end of the tubular member and having a rectangular opening passing the elongated member when registered therewith and rotatable to engage the selected shoulder. The ring is constructed to be reversed for half stage adjustments. Great versatility in the head and base elements or structures of the device permit numerous and varied uses. Cooperation with supplemental devices, such as a ball head pivot block to obtain wide range angle support adjustment, is afforded.

United States Patent [19] Dolphin Jan. 9, 1973 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Att0rneyHill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support has a tubular member open at one end and an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustably telescopically assembled through and projecting from such end with at least one and desirably a substantial series of axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulders thereon movable into and out of the tubular member in reciprocations of the members, with an axially outwardly facing shoulder device on such end of the tubular member adapted to be engaged selectively with the peripheral shoulders by a relative rotary movement of the device and the elongated member when the selected shoulder is located outwardly from such end. The tubular member may be of internally rectangular cross section and the elongated member of complementary rectan gular perimeter with the shoulders thereon formed by peripheral grooves, and the shoulder device is desirably a ring rotatably seated on the end of the tubular member and having a rectangular opening passing the elongated member when registered therewith and rotatable to engage the selected shoulder. The ring is constructed to be reversed for half stage adjustments. Great versatility in the head and base elementsor structures of the device permit numerous and varied uses. Cooperation with supplemental devices, such as a ball head pivot block to obtain wide range angle support adjustment, is afforded.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures n I H m lll PATENTEDJAH 9m 3.7(19'A79 SHEET 1 UF 2 IN'VEA'TOR.

PATENTEDJM 9:913 3.709.479

SHEET 2 BF 2 I NVEN'TOR,

SETUP SUPPORT This invention relates to setup supports or stands, and is more particularly concerned with a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support which is especially useful in assisting machine tool operations on various types of workpieces.

In making setups for machine tool operations such as boring, planing, milling, drilling, and the like, on a machine tool table, the workpiece must be supported in the proper attitude to the tool head of the machine. This often requires support of the workpiece in elevated relation to the machine table so as to enable movement of the cutting tool all the way through an opening in the workpiece. Frequently the workpiece is of irregular shape or must be supported in an attitude which precludes solidly clamping the piece to the machine table. Some workpieces are quite heavy. In every instance, the workpiece must be held quite stable for accurate machining.

Numerous and varied setup supports, clamps and gadgets have been provided heretofore. While many of the prior devices have been reasonably successful for the intended purpose, they have often involved costly mechanisms, parts that have been unduly subject to wear or misalignment unless handled and operated with utmost care and skill, have required considerable experience to attain the desired results, have sometimes involved loose parts that are subject to being mislaid or lost, have often taken undue time in setting up, have sometimes not been as stable as might be desired, have often been unduly specialized and limited or lacking in adjustability, have been limited in load capacity,'and have suffered from other defects and deficiencies as will be readily apparent on comparison with the support structures of the present invention.

According to the present invention the foregoing and other disadvantages, defects, inefficiences, shortcomings and problems in prior structures are overcome by providing new and improved setup structure embodying the principles of the present invention as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setup support which is simple, efficient and rugged in construction and operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable setup support which is capable of withstanding extremely heavy loads.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved setup support which will assure stable, accurate, safe and secure support and retention of structures with which used.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a setup support or stand embodying features ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line llll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating how a half increment of adjustment is attainable as compared to FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 depict representative different head structures or elements for the device; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a setup utilizing a setup support embodying features of the invention and including a swivel base support.

On reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a representative example of a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support 10 is shown adapted to be used as a stable, temporary, high load capacity stand, prop, shore, buttress, brace or the like. In a simple, minimum number of parts construction, the device comprises a tubular member 11 open at one end having an elongated member 12 freely longitudinally adjustably telescopically assembled into and projecting from the open end.

Means are provided for retaining the telescopically related members 11 and 12 in firm, stable, load bearing relatively longitudinally adjusted relationship. For this purpose, the member 12 is provided with at least one, and desirably a substantial plurality of axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulders 13 thereon readily movable into and out of the tubular member 11 in relative adjustment reciprocations of the members. Cooperative with the selected shoulder 13 is an axially outwardly facing shoulder device 14 on the end of the member 11 through which the member 12 is adjustably movable. The construction and relationship of the shoulders 13 and the shoulder device 14 are such that they are interengageable by a relative rotary movement of the device and the elongated member 12 when the selected shoulder 13 is located outwardly from the end of the member 11.

Advantageously, the telescopically related members 11 and 12 are constructed to enable free relative telescopic adjustment movement but are held against relative torsional movement. For this purpose, the con fronting longitudinal surfaces of the members are constructed in complementary noncircular form in cross section across the axis of the assembly but relatively straight longitudinally and with just enough clearance between the confronting longitudinal surfaces to assure free longitudinal adjustment movement. ln an easily machined, efficient construction, the outer member 11 is provided with a rectangular inner wall formation 15, with the perimeter of the inner member 12 of complementary rectangular shape. To provide the shoulders 13, the member 12 is simply formed with suitable longitudinally spaced circumferential circular grooves 17, dividing the perimeter of the member 12 into a suitable plurality of spaced, parallel flanges 18 having the respective shoulders 13 on their axially inwardly facing surfaces.

In an especially desirable form, the shoulder device 14 is a ring of a diameter to seat firmly on a thrust shoulder 19 about the open end of the member 11. To receive the member 12 therethrough and to cooperate in shouldering engagement with the shoulders 13, the shoulder ring device 14 has a flange 20 provided with a central clearance hole 21 complementary in outline to the non-circular cross section of the outer perimeter of the member 12 so that when the hole 21 is in phase with the member outer perimeter, the member can pass freely therethrough longitudinally. By having the flange slightly thinner for clearance purposes than the width of the respective grooves 17, a partial relative turn of the ring device 14 and the member 12 with the flange 20 registered with any selected one of the grooves 17, moves the hole 21 and the member perimeter out of phase so that the area of the selected shoulder 13 confronts the shoulder presented by the device 14 in thrusting relation, as shown. In the depicted example, the rectangular cross sectional shape provides four substantial shoulder areas for each of the shoulders 13 in engagement with the shoulder device 14. A triangular cross sectional shape would provide three shoulders, a hexagonal cross sectional shape would provide six shoulders. An oval cross sectional shape would provide two shoulders. Relative telescopic adjustments between the members 11 and 12 can thus be made speedily and easily, simply by turning the shoulder ring device 14 between the in phase and out of phase relationship.

Means are provided for effecting full or half increment relative longitudinal adjustments of the members 11 and 12 selectively. To this end, the shoulder ring device 14 is constructed of about twice the thickness of the flanges 18, with a shoulder flange clearing groove 22 at one side of the flange 20 peripherally defined by an axial annular spacer flange 23. When the spacer flange 23 is in engagement with the member shoulder 19, a full incremental adjustment between the respective shoulders 13 is adapted to be effected throughout the length of the member 12. Should a full incremental adjustment not serve the purpose, but half an increment of adjustment would do, it is a simple matter to withdraw the member 12 entirely from the ring 14, reverse the ring and reestablish the assembly with the flange 20 in shouldering engagement with the selected shoulder 13 and the opposite end of the ring from the spacer flange 23 in engagement with the member shoulder 19 (FIG. 3). This establishes a half increment less than the adjustments initially provided for. On the other hand, if the ring 14 is initially in the position shown in FIG. 3, a half increment additional adjustment can be effected by reversing the ring from that position to the position shown in FIG. 2. Adjustment versatility is thus readily demonstrated for the device.

Means are provided for engaging the opposite ends of the support assembly with structures by and between which the assembly is to be engaged. To this end, the tubular member 11 may be equipped, on its end opposite the end from which the member 12 projects, with a relatively broad base 24, in this instance having a flat bottom enabling it to support the assembly in stable relation on a flat surface. On its outer end, the elongated telescoping member may be provided with any of a variety of engagement heads, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an integral relatively large rectangular plate-like head element 25, although it may be of any other desired geometric shape. Through this arrangement, the base 24 is well adapted to support the assembly on a machine table while the head 25 is adjustably located at the proper elevation to engage directly under the workpiece, or under one end of a clamping strap or bar through which a T-bolt is engaged to lever the other end of the bar clampingly against the work.

Where for special engagement or supporting purposes, it is desirable to have the head on the member 12 of a special shape, that can readily be provided for, as for example, in FIG. 4 where the head or top 25 has partially upturned opposite ends or edges 27 providing, in effect, a saddle formation. For numerous purposes in machine tool work setup, a swivel top or head 28 (FIG. 5) is desirable. In this instance the head is supported on a swivel ball joint 29 carried by a stem 30 projecting coaxially from the outer end of the member 12. To enable micrometer-like adjustments after major adjustments have been effected by means of the shoulder ring, the head carrying stem is desirably provided with a threaded shank 31 having a wrench shoulder 32 adjacent its outer end and threaded into a tapped socket 33 coaxially in the outer end of the member 12.

To eliminate the need for a separate strap, the member 12 may be equipped with a laterally projecting strap lever head 34 (FIG. 6) having on one end a furcation slot 35 within which the upper end portion of the member 12 is received, with a trunion 37 pivotally attaching the furcation of the member. To receive a conventional T-bolt 38 the strap or bar 34 is provided with an intermediate longitudinal slot 39.

As shown in FIG. 7, the member 12 may be provided with an angle top or head 40. Although this head may be a fixed member, it is desirably pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the member 12 as by means of a trunion 41. Further, in order to secure the head 40 to a workpiece or other member to be supported by the device, the head may carry means such as a bolt 42, or at least be equipped as by means of a bolt hole to receive such an attachment bolt.

For some purposes, it may be desirable to have the base 24 swivelly mounted. Accordingly, the base may be provided with means comprising a swivel socket conveniently in the form of an axial hole 43 (FIGS. 2 and 8) freely swivelly engageable upon a spherical pivot head or ball 44 of a swivel block 45. This block is desirably equipped with means for securing it in adjusted position on a machine table 47. For this purpose the block 45 is dimensioned to rest on the table across a selected slot 48 therein and with a locating rib or tongue 49 engaging in the groove. To fasten the swivel block 45 to the table 47, it is provided with means comprising a T-clamp 50 arranged to be drawn up toward the tongue 49 by means of a securing bolt 51 by which the clamp is adapted to be drawn up tight against the underside of the table 47 adjacent to the slot 48. Thereby, the swivel block 45 is adapted to be secured in any desired adjusted relationship along the slot 48 convenient to the location of a workpiece 52 to be engaged by the support 10 which in this instance is equipped with the swivel head 28 to facilitate the engagement. It will be apparent that by means of the socket 43 and the swivel ball 44, a wide range of universally pivotal adjustment is attainable as permitted by the spherical surface of the ball. Since the ball 44 is solidly integral with the block 45 and the block firmly engages the table 47 an extremely stable support is provided.

For machine tool setup usage, the support device 10 may be provided in a variety oflengths, i.e. a 4 to 6 inch minimum height adjustable to a maximum height of about 7 to 8 inches; an 8 to 9 inch minimum height adjustable to about l2 to 13 inches maximum; a 12 inch minimum height adjustable to about 22 inches; and a inch minimum height adjustable to about 38 inch maximum. in addition, by cross sectional dimension standardization, the tubular standards 11 and the telescopic members 12 may be interchanged to attain various height adjustment requirements intermediate or in addition to those specifically mentioned. The cross sectional dimensional standardization, of course, enables a single tubular standard member 11 to receive interchangeably shouldered members 12 having thereon any selected of the various head structures or elements as may be desirable for particular needs.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support:

a tubular member open at one end;

an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustably telescopically assembled into and projecting from said end of said tubular member and having at least one axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulder thereon movable into and out of said tubular member in relative reciprocations of the members; and a ring member mounted for rotary movement on said one end of said tubular member and having at least one axially outwardly facing shoulder adapted to selectively engage said peripheral shoulder by a relative rotary movement of said ring member and said elongated member when said peripheral shoulder is located outwardly from said one end;

said ring member being stepped and reversible to provide respective oppositely facing shoulders of different heights for varying the extent of axial adjustment of said members by selecting the ring shoulder for engagement with said shoulder of said elongated member.

2. A support according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member has a plurality of horizontally spaced shoulders and intervening grooves therealong, means enabling free longitudinal relative adjustment movement of said elongated and tubular members but preventing relative turning movements thereof, and said ring member being rotatable relative to both of said elongated and tubular members whereby a selected ring member shoulder may enter a selected groove and engage an adjacent elongated member shoulder.

3. A support according to claim 2, wherein said ring member comprises a ring having an inwardly extending flange forming shoulders on opposite sides, said flange having an opening therethrough which will freely pass said elongated member in only one rotary position of said ring member relative to said tubular and elongated members, and the ring member being turnable out of phase with respect to said one position to effect interengagements of said ring member shoulders with said elongated member shoulder.

4. A support according to claim I, in which said tubular member has a base at its opposite end, said base having a swivel socket engageable with a spherical swivel head on a swivel block on a machine tool table.

5. A support according to claim I, wherein said ring member is of a generally L-shape cross section provided with a radially inwardly extending flange providing said ring member shoulders, said ring member having a clearance aperture therethrough for passing said elongated member freely through the aperture in one 5 relative position of rotation of the ring member relative to the elongated member and effecting engagement of the elongated member shoulder with the selected ring shoulder in another relative rotary relation of the ring member to the elongated member, said elongated member having an outer end equipped with a device for engagement with an object to be supported, and a base on the opposite end of the tubular member having a socket engageable with a swivel head of a supporting member on a machine tool table.

6. In a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support:

a tubular member open at one end; an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustable telescopically assembled into and projecting from said end of tubular member and having at least one axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulder thereon movable into and out of said tubular member in relative reciprocations of the members; and

a ring member mounted for rotary movement on said one end of said tubular member having at least one axially outwardly facing shoulder to selectively engage said peripheral shoulder by a rotary movement of said ring member relative to said elongated member when said peripheral shoulder is located outwardly from said one end;

said ring member having a hole therethrough passing said elongated member freely in one relative rotary position of the ring member relative to said elongated member and being turnable out of phase with said one position to effect said interengagement of the ring member shoulder with said elongated member shoulder.

7. A support according to claim 6, said tubular member having an internal wall which is non-circular in cross section across the axis of the members, said elongated member having longitudinal surfaces complementary to and freely telescopically related to said wall but cooperating therewith to prevent relative torsional displacement of the members, said ring member opening being complementary to said longitudinal surfaces to enable passage of said longitudinal surfaces axially when in phase therewith, said ring member having a flange about said hole engageable with said elongated member shoulder in the turning of the ring member relative to the elongated member to the out of phase relationship wherein said hole is out of phase with said longitudinal surfaces.

8. A support according to claim 6, said elongated member shoulder being defined at one side of a groove in said elongated member, and said ring member having a flange which is freely engageable in said groove in said out of phase relationship.

9. A support according to claim 6, including a base on the end of said tubular member opposite to said one end, and a head element on the outer end of said elongated member engageable with an object to be supported, said base having a swivel socket opening outwardly and adapted to engage with a swivel head of a supporting device on a machine table. 

1. In a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support: a tubular member open at one end; an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustably telescopically assembled into and projecting from said end of said tubular member and having at least one axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulder thereon movable into and out of said tubular member in relative reciprocations of the members; and a ring member mounted for rotary movement on said one end of said tubular member and having at least one axially outwardly facing shoulder adapted to selectively engage said peripheral shoulder by a relative rotary movement of said ring member and said elongated member when said peripheral shoulder is located outwardly from said one end; said ring member being stepped and reversible to provide respective oppositely facing shoulders of different heights for varying the extent of axial adjustment of said members by selecting the ring shoulder for engagement with said shoulder of said elongated member.
 2. A support according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member has a plurality of horizontally spaced shoulders and intervening grooves therealong, means enabling free longitudinal relative adjustment movement of said elongated and tubular members but preventing relative turning movements thereof, and said ring member being rotatable relative to both of said elongated and tubular members whereby a selected ring member shoulder may enter a selected groove and engage an adjacent elongated member shoulder.
 3. A support according to claim 2, wherein said ring member comprises a ring having an inwardly extending flange forming shoulders on opposite sides, said flange having an opening therethrough which will freely pass said elongated member in only one rotary position of said ring member relative to said tubular and elongated members, and the ring member being turnable out of phase with respect to said one position to effect interengagements of said ring member shoulders with said elongated member shoulder.
 4. A support according to claim 1, in which said tubular member has a base at its opposite end, said base having a swivel socket engageable with a spherical swivel head on a swivel block on a machine tool table.
 5. A support according to claim 1, wherein said ring member is of a generally L-shape cross section provided with a radially inwardly extending flange providing said ring member shoulders, said ring member having a clearance aperture therethrough for passing said elongated member freely through the aperture in one relative position of rotation of the ring member relative to the elongated member and effecting engagement of the elongated member shoulder with the selected ring shoulder in another relative rotary relation of the ring member to the elongated member, said elongated member having an outer end equipped with a device for engagement with an object to be supported, and a base on the opposite end of the tubular member having a socket engageable with a swivel head of a supporting member on a machine tool table.
 6. In a longitudinally rapidly adjustable setup support: a tubular member open at one end; an elongated member freely longitudinally adjustable telescopically assembled into and projecting from said end of tubular member and having at least one axially inwardly facing peripheral shoulder thereon movable into and out of said tubular member in relative reciprocations of the members; and a ring member mounted for rotary movement on said one end of said tubular member having at least one axially outwardly facing shoulder to selectively engage said peripheral shoulder by a rotary movement of said ring member relative to said elongated member when said peripheral shoulder is located outwardly from said one end; said ring member having a hole therethrough passing said elongated member freely in one relative rotary position of the ring member relative to said elongated member and being turnable out of phase with said one position to effect said interengagement of the ring member shoulder with said elongated member shoulder.
 7. A support according to claim 6, said tubular member having an internal wall which is non-circular in cross section across the axis of the members, said elongated member having longitudinal surfaces complementary to and freely telescopically related to said wall but cooperating therewith to prevent relative torsional displacement of the members, said ring member opening being complementary to said longitudinal surfaces to enable passage of said longitudinal surfaces axially when in phase therewith, said ring member having a flange about said hole engageable with said elongated member shoulder in the turning of the ring member relative to the elongated member to the out of phase relationship wherein said hole is out of phase with said longitudinal surfaces.
 8. A support according to claim 6, said elongated member shoulder being defined at one side of a groove in said elongated member, and said ring member having a flange which is freely engageable in said groove in said out of phase relationship.
 9. A support according to claim 6, including a base on the end of said tubular member opposite to said one end, and a head element on the outer end of said elongated member engageable with an object to be supported, said base having a swivel socket opening outwardly and adapted to engage with a swivel head of a supporting device on a machine table. 